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We are very glad to present our website newly updated and now in German as well as in English.
Thanks to OASYS Namibia for providing free dial-up, free web-hosting and
free ftp access for SRT.
OASYS Namibia also permits any SRT employee to utilize OASYS` leased line for our e-mail-traffic.
Our Guestbook does not yet look how we want it to -
but we are working on the update!
General
Abner Naseb of the Rhino Camp team beats “Frankie Fredericks” in the 100m sprint!
On 26 January the Rhino Camp team left camp at 06h30 with the Director of Field Operations Bernd Brell to assess the condition of black rhino Hoakedie`s calf, which had been spotted the day before and seemed to be ill (swollen abdomen and lethargic). After the physical tracking of the animals had commenced the team was stuck with dilemma of having to move through very thick Salvadora persica (Mustard Tree) and Tamarisk usnoides (Wild Tamarisk) scrub, visibility only being about a meter or two at times.
Following the animals for about two hours in a circular route they realized the spoor was getting fresher and the chances of walking into the animals more prominent. Abner and Bernd were in front with Asser and Justus following, when they suddenly saw a grey backside in front of them, as expected at close range (about 3 meters away). Before anybody could say anything, their instinct took over as well as adrenalin and within seconds they were out of the danger zone with Abner still running (at a speed of white lightning) when the rest of the team had regrouped already.
The incident caused quite a bit of amusement for a while as they realised that the animals had taken them all the way back to the vehicle and really had lead them around the bush.
Dung samples of the youngster (rhino - of course!) had been collected to have a look for possible parasites in his food and to assess his feeding habits.
Camel Patrols
SRT is entering into a new venture during the winter of 2006, namely Camel Safaris as a Joint Venture with Wilderness Safaris in the Palmwag Concession area, where 70 % of the Kunene Region`s black rhino population live.
The Camel Safaris will move out from the SRT camel base camp at Mbakondja, westwards through the mountains for four days and nights. A specialist guide from Wilderness Safaris will accompany the tourist clients and the camel team of SRT trackers.
Groups will be accommodated in fly-camps (Canvas tents and an outdoor kitchen will provide meals under the stars). During each day Safari guests will be able to view the splendid scenery, other wildlife species including elephant, the endemic Hartmann`s zebra, oryx and springbok herds and predators (lion, hyaena and cheetah). Safaris will cover four days and nights with the camel team.
During each safari guests will be able to see the trackers in action and view black rhinos at close quarters.
The Safaris promise to be well supported by conservation-minded, caring guests from all over the world. This new venture will once again demonstrate to rural people in the region, the benefits of having rhinos in their communities.
Rhino News
Misty
At the beginning of November 2005 Misty gave birth to a new calf, sex still unknown since SRT observed them at a distance of 176 meters, in order not to disturb them. They were spotted on top of one of the typically flat topped Etendeka Mountains. Her previous calf, three years of age and a young male, was spotted in the same area about 2 hours before.
Mathilda
The last sighting of Mathilda and her calf was on the 08 February 2006. After tracking them for an hour they were found standing next to a Colophospermum mopani tree (Mopane). They were observed for about ten minutes at a distance of 75 ms. The calf is about 4 years old and female.
This young female calf has not yet been named
and perhaps somebody would like to adopt, name
and sponsor her protection!
Karonda
Karonda, a well known bull had been involved in a fight for dominance with another bull. Snoring seems to be Karonda`s trade mark since the encounter, probably due to an injury to his nasal bone. His condition was not encouraging, although he was feeding well on Euphorbia virosas (observing his behaviour and putting it into Human terms - he seemed to be really feeling sorry for him).
No trace of blood was found in his saliva or feaces indicating possible internal injuries.
During one of SRT`s following on regular patrols to search for Karonda and follow his condition he took out his frustrations on being beaten on SRT´s LandRover. And though Karonda is still snoring his condition has increased to everybody`s satisfaction. This is probably due to the plentifully fresh browsing available after the excellent rains.
Hope
After her mother !Nawas (left) had died at an age of 24 years in February 2005 her daughter Hope (right), aged 3 years, was also found dead on the 31 December of the same year. The carcass was found about 2 kms away from where her mother`s carcasse had been found. Body fluid and soil samples were collected by the SRT and handed to the veterinarian for analyses = possible anthrax case.
Closure
SRT will be working with MET in late March & April 2006, to capture a selected group of male and female rhino in the Palmwag Concession area. Each rhino will be fitted with a radio transmitter. These individuals will then be monitored intensively over the following twelve months, prior to moving animals to neighboring conservancies. The SRT pilot will be involved in spotting the rhinos during these capture operations.
This initiative has been made possible, by selecting individual rhino from the data base built by SRT over the past 24 years.
This future translocation of a group of rhino from the Palmwag Concession area, achieves two of the Strategic Objectives of the Black Rhino Conservation Strategy for Namibia, namely
- Expansion of Range of the population in Kunene Region and
- Biological Management by reducing pressure in the Concession area and creating a “Founder” population in the neighbouring conservancies.
However following the recent poaching incidents in southern Namibia Law Enforcement will again become the most important objective of rhino conservation in the country, to ensure that illegal killing and levels of human induced disturbance are minimized.
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